Legacy Fund changes name to Hamilton County Community Foundation

At the 10th annual Celebration of Philanthropy dinner Nov. 8 at Ritz Charles in Carmel, Tom Kilian, Jr. announced Legacy Fund would change its name to Hamilton County Community Foundation.

Kilian, the executive director of Hamilton County Community Foundation, announced a new strategic plan accompanying the name change.

“We would like to announce we are changing our name to better serve and better reflect who we are in the community,”Kilian said.

Kilian called the name change a “bold new direction” and spoke on a new direction the foundation would take, which would focus on mental health, inclusive economic growth and family and youth development.

“Our new name helps better express the foundation’s goal to build a community where opportunity meets growth for everyone, and philanthropic efforts support not-for-profit organizations doing vital work,”Kilian said.

The foundation was established in 1991 to address specific needs within the county and provide residents with the opportunity to create a living legacy in order to make a lasting impact in their lives. Kilian described the foundation’s new mission, shared with regional affiliates such as Central Indiana Community Foundation and The Indianapolis Foundation, as mobilizing people, ideas and investment to make the county a community where every individual has equitable opportunity to reach their full potential no matter their place, race or identity.

“Every person has power, and that power is multiplied when we work together,”Kilian said.

The new strategic plan for the Hamilton County Community Foundation will be finalized early next year.

In addition to the name change, the community pillar award recipients Judge Steve Nation, Freedom Kolb and Brenda Myers received their awards at the event. Each recipient was awarded a $5,000 grant they could donate to a charity of their choosing.

Nation donated $5,000 to the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Programs. Nation said he accepted the award on behalf of the superintendents, teachers, counselors, mayors and public officials who love the county’s kids.

“There’s not one community in this county who doesn’t support this, because they love our kids,” Nation said. “This is the greatest thing we can give our kids to make sure they succeed at the next step.”

Kolb opted to donate the grant to Child Advocates, which would enable county residents to attend Undoing Racism workshops at no cost.

“Education is about designing our community’s future,” Kolb said. “Our efforts must be equitable and intentional.”

Myers donated the $5,000 grant to the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, which would allow for alumni to become a resource for building the not-for-profits in the community.

“As we have seen this community grow over the last decade, we are constantly reminded how many leaders it takes to do good things,” she said.